Photo: Michelle May, M.D.

The trademarks of yo-yo dieting -- overeating, followed by deprivation in guilty repentance -- may seem like something a doctor would have the self-control and training to be above, but Michelle May, M.D., former yo-yo dieter and author of the new book "Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat," explains that "health care professionals are people too," and that the restrictions of diets -- not the dieters -- are to blame for failed weight-loss plans.

The reason? In her book, she explains that the very basics of dieting -- the counting, planning and constant need to think and plan your eating based off of someone else's rules (often "before you're even out of bed!") is tiring. So much so, that any good aspect of the diet is essentially canceled out by the end result: "This constant effort and vigilance may wear you out and cause you to return to overeating to escape." Once Dr. May ditched diets, and adopted long-term successful strategies she describes below, the weight came off.

That's Fit: What do you think was most effective in helping you achieve a healthy weight?

Dr. Michelle May: I had to pay attention not just to what and how much I was eating, but why I was eating in the first place. I didn't have any deep, dark emotional issues, but I had certainly learned to comfort and entertain myself with food. Even when I was on a diet and following the rules about what to eat, I was still eating when I was bored, stressed or tired. When I felt too deprived of the foods I loved, I'd go off my diet. Nothing had fundamentally changed about my relationship with food so I just went back to overeating my favorites. This is what I called my eat-repent-repeat cycle.

I've since worked with thousands of people who are doing exactly the same thing, and the reason is that with yo-yo [dieting you don't] have any middle ground -- you are either on your diet or off. I kicked yo-yo dieting by changing the paradigm completely from a yo-yo to a pendulum. There is still the possibility of extremes but as you give overeating and dieting less of your energy, the pendulum settles into a smaller arc in the middle where you have the flexibility and the mindfulness to nourish your mind, body, heart and soul.

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz, We're half way through December and I've already gained four pounds. How do I stop this? Colin

A. Happy Holidays, Colin! Thanks for writing. I've got some pretty clear advice for you, which is the same advice I'd give if you showed up for a personal training session with me. Get a grip! Put a moratorium on the indulgences and focus on fighting that new fat.

Here's a tongue twister for you. Say N-acylphosphatidylethanolamines. Can't pronounce it? Yeah, neither can I. But this unpronounceable family of hormones -- which, thankfully, are nicknamed NAPEs -- might prove to be a good friend in fighting obesity.

NAPEs are natural substances released in the body which help us to feel full. New research indicates that varieties of this hormone might one day be effective in controlling appetite, which would make it an important soldier in the fight against obesity.

Research is still in its early stages -- tests have only been conducted on rats and mice at this point -- but researchers are cautiously optimistic. In the study, rats who were given NAPEs consistently ate less and lost weight. Though results aren't firm, research indicates that some people may have abnormal releases of NAPEs in their systems, which could potentially contribute to obesity.

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How much you eat is just as important as what you eat, says the man narrating this Cleveland Clinic video. True. I'm thinking cashews right now -- good for me but not if I throw them back mindlessly.

Ah, portion control. A wise concept. Not always easy to manage, though. Back to the video -- it's a great one for helping to visualize appropriate serving sizes, like the following.

A serving size of cheese is equal to four dice. A baked potato: the size of a computer mouse. Meat, the palm of your hand. Peanut butter, the tip of your thumb. Veggies -- think one fist. Starches and fruits -- half a fist or a cupped hand.

Want a actual look at these suggestions. Click here. In a mere four minutes, you'll be educated on serving sizes, portion control, and you'll walk away with a few great tips for slimming down on snacking -- hint: don't eat from the bag, serve up a small portion in a bowl.

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I don't know about you but I've never worried more about health issues than I do now that I'm a mom. My own health concerns cause me some worry but my kids' health issues -- they really cause me some worry. I remember freaking out the day my oldest child went to the doctor as a toddler and his pediatrician spotted blood in his urine. I wouldn't have been so bonkers about it all had the doctor not told me it could be a sign of kidney disease. It wasn't. But for a few days, I was sure my baby would face a life-threatening disease. I felt the same way when my youngest guy was sent through the tube of an MRI because trouble with his eye raised a brain tumor red flag. No tumor was found.

So I've established that I'm a worrier. Makes sense to me then to minimize as much worry as possible -- hey, worry isn't good for my health -- by taking appropriate action in the interest of my kids' health whenever possible. There are so many areas out of my control -- like kidney problems and brain tumors -- but for the areas I can influence, by golly, I'm going to take charge.

I'll be brief here -- believe me, I could go on and on -- but these are some of the health duties for which I've charged myself when it comes to the two little boys whose lives are in my hands: Feeding them well, making sure they exercise well, taking them to recommended well doctor visits, taking them for occasional sick doctor visits, ensuring their vaccinations are up to date, making sure they brush, floss, and see a dentist twice a year, keeping all household medications out of reach, teaching proper hand-washing and hygiene habits, slathering them with sunscreen, harnessing them in proper car safety seats, keeping our windows and doors locked at all times, even when we're home, and watching them at all times when they play at a park or in the front of our house -- our backyard is fenced and secure.

Does your kid have an internal locus of control? If so, it's a good thing because kids who have one by age 10 are less likely to be overweight at age 30. They also grow up to be healthier adults and are less likely to describe their health as poor or show high levels of psychological stress. Despite childhood IQ, education, and family income, these tendencies remain.

A locus of control is the extent to which people think they can influence events through their own actions. Each of us has one. It's a natural component of a person's personality and is shaped by childhood experiences and interaction with parents. Those who are shaped to believe they are in charge of their lives have an "internal" locus of control. Those who are not have an "external" locus.

"I think it is quite probable that a major explanation why children with a more internal locus of control behave more healthily as adults is that they have greater confidence in their ability to influence outcomes through their own actions," says Dr. Catharine R. Gale, of the University of Southampton in the UK. They may also have higher self-esteem, which can encourage healthy habits.

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Is there anything more frustrating than making a real effort to lose a certain amount of weight before a big event, like a wedding or class reunion, only to come up short when the big day rolls around? But you're out of time -- what can you do? Let me tell you -- the right clothes can make all the difference.

You've probably heard of Spanx and Assets, which are great. Hey, if it's good enough for celebrities on the red carpet, it's good enough for me. However, a new line of clothing has come out, and it has what you need built right in -- ShapeFX.

ShapeFX has all kinds of slimming items designed to "make the body you have look like the body you want." They offer shaper pieces to wear underneath (they even have Shaper Shorts with a Butt Lifter!), but they also have dresses, pants, tops ... pretty much anything you would ever want to wear. And every piece has uses at least one of three approaches to slimming you down and hiding flaws: control, fabrication, and design.

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It's clear what kinds of foods are bad for us. Anything loaded with sugar, trans fats, and sodium for starters. But do you know what kinds of foods are bad for pets? Think human foods, not pet foods.

It's best to stick with pet foods for the nourishment of your beloved pup. But it's tempting to treat your furry friend to a little table food now and then. And that's what many people do. In 2007, the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center received more than 130,000 calls regarding animal poisoning caused by common human foods and household items. Here are the top culprits.

• Avocados

• Beer

• Chocolate

• Candy

• Caffeine

• Grapes and raisins

• Nuts

• Onions

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Boys need gym class. But girls need it more, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

It's clear following a survey of 5,000 students ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade that girls who got 70 to 300 minutes of physical education per week scored higher on standardized tests. Funny because gym classes are being increasingly scaled back to make room for academics and testing when if the exercise was instead more frequent, girls would do even better. They'd concentrate better too. And participate more in class. Not so true for the boys, though.

The CDC study found no correlation between gym class and test scores for boys, maybe because they play more actively and physically during recess and outside school.

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OK, ladies, here are some tips for getting control of your girth. Men, don't tune out. These tips might work for you too.

• Tape It Up
• It's In The Jeans
• Hit The Floor
• Ditch The Elastic
• Eat Often

To get more information about how to incorporate each of these tips into your lifestyle, check out the gallery:

For another five tips -- hint: they involve plants, exercise, and portion sizes -- click here.

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Do you know any impulse buyers? You know, those folks who just can't pass up purchasing something that strikes their fancy. Maybe you fit this category. I do. Sometimes. Well, if you buy on impulse, then you might eat on impulse too because both practices are securely rooted in the brain.

"The prefrontal cortex, just behind the forehead, helps control impulsivity," says Patrick Haggard, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University College London. "People who act more spontaneously often have less activity in this area."

There may not be anything you can do about the impulses that drive your behavior but becoming aware of this tendency can help you control the impulses that might get you into trouble.

Want tips for cutting back on impulse buying? Click here. How about impulse eating? Click here.

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Just in time for the holiday feasts that await us, Discovery Health offers this brief video clip with a few tips for the season -- and for everyday weight control too.

One: Never enter a food environment hungry, especially at holiday time.

Two: When preparing dishes, be sure to include plenty of fruits and vegetables as appetizers, side dishes, and desserts.

Three: Get rid of left-overs. Send your guests home with your extra goodies. They'll appreciate the kind gesture, and you'll appreciate the saved calories and bonus space in your fridge.

What quick tips and tricks do you have for ensuring your holiday is a healthy one?

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Bulimia nervosa, like anorexia nervosa, is an eating disorder that centers around control. One of the most common eating disorders, bulimia is characterized by consuming large amounts of food and then ridding the stomach of its contents by way of vomiting, over-exercising, or use of laxatives.

Eating to excess (called the "binge") is comforting to bulimics. But eating too much causes them to feel out of control. They also feel guilt, shame, and a fear of weight gain which causes them to "purge." This "binge and purge" cycle is extremely dangerous and can lead to serious and long-term health problems, like tooth decay, gum disease, loss of tooth enamel, osteoporosis, kidney damage, heart problems, and even death.

Because bulimia is harder to recognize than anorexia -- the symptoms are more subtle and bulimics are not always thin -- awareness is critical. Please consider these symptoms and physical effects of bulimia.

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There is definitely a difference between good stress and bad stress, and the way that you handle the bad stress will often determine if you're happy, healthy and generally well-balanced or worried, depressed and edgy. Obviously we all handle the various stresses related to work and family life differently, but have you ever wondered just how well you deal with stress?

This quick quiz aims to give everyone an idea of their stress style, or how well they handle stressful situations. I scored an 18, which puts me at the bottom of the 'Control Freak' category. Apparently, my fellow control freaks and I find that the best way to deal with stress is to do whatever we can to control the situation. Those with the lowest scores are labeled "Cool Cats", and are possible the best at dealing with stress as they take things in stride and make plans to deal with demands.

Finally, there's the "Nervous Nelly" who manages stressful situations by finding distractions. When something comes up, nervous nelly's will often deal by going for a run, eating, upping their caffeine consumption and getting tense. If you'd like more information on each of the stress styles, as well as ideas on how to better deal with stress based on your type, take the quiz here.

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FitSpirit explores the mind-body connection and the intangible benefits we gain from our efforts to stay physically fit.

Sometimes I worry a bit much. Apparently, I'm not alone. Almost 40 percent of us worry every day, a habit that compromises our minds, our bodies, our spirits. Worrying is simply bad for our health. And we really need to cut it out. HealthyUpdates.com lists four steps we can take to minimize worry.

Step One: Make Worrying Matter

If we must worry, we should worry about productive matters only. Forget the weather. We have no control over that. But we do have control over matters involving a vacation, for example. Productive worry is asking yourself, "Do have a map?" or "Do I have a car reserved?" It's productive because you can take action on these items. Since it's relaxing to make progress on something tangible, this is the type of worry you want.

Step Two: Embrace Novelty

We worriers tend to avoid trying new things because it makes us uncomfortable. But a little discomfort is just what we need. Challenging our comfort zones will eventually help us rely less on worry as a coping strategy.

Step Three: Reframe

Try to reframe situations until you see them as positive opportunities. If you're stressed about moving, think about what you'll gain from the experience, not what you might lose.

Step Four: Wait it Out

Remember: Most emotions are temporary. Tell yourself your worries will not overwhelm you or last a really long time. Because realistically, they won't.

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